Sleep apnea Board decisions

The Veteran has withdrawn his appeals regarding the claims for service connection and rating for obstructive sleep apnea, traumatic brain injury, migraine headaches, left ear hearing loss, and right ear hearing loss.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims of service connection for sleep apnea and bilateral hearing loss. The decision on sleep apnea was final, as it had been previously denied in 2004 with no new material evidence submitted to reopen the claim. For bilateral hearing loss, the Board found that the condition is attributable to his active military service.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for sleep apnea is being remanded due to the need for additional VA treatment records and a VA examination.

The Veteran's back disability is currently evaluated as 10 percent disabling under the General Rating Formula for Diseases and Injuries of the Spine. The evidence does not support a higher rating based on current functional impairment.

The Board has remanded the case for further development, including obtaining VA treatment records and addressing the Veteran's claims of service connection for diabetes mellitus, bilateral pes planus, left foot tendonitis, and sleep apnea.

The Veteran's panic disorder is rated at 70 percent from April 19, 2011 to March 5, 2012. The rating for lumbosacral strain remains at 40 percent. The ratings for left and right lower extremity radiculopathy remain at 10 percent each. The Veteran is granted TDIU.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded for further development, including to verify in-service exposure to asbestos and/or chemical and environmental hazards, conduct a VA examination, and consider the Veteran's contentions regarding his sleep apnea.

The Veteran withdrew his claims for increased ratings on all three issues during the November 2017 Board hearing.

The Veteran's sleep apnea, GERD, and esophageal cancer were not incurred during service or due to a service-connected disability. The effective dates for service connection are denied.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities do not meet the criteria for Vocational Rehabilitation benefits under Chapter 31, Title 38, United States Code. The Board found that her employment is consistent with her abilities and interests, and she has overcome any impairment of employability caused by her service-connected conditions.

The Board found that there is no evidence to support the Veteran's claims of service connection for his claimed conditions, as they are not shown to be related to his active military service or any in-service exposure. The Veteran's current conditions were determined to be due to other causes.

The Veteran's left eye disorder is not service-connected as it did not manifest in service and there is no evidence of a nexus between the current condition and his military service.,Service connection for sleep apnea has been granted as the Veteran experienced symptoms during service and post-service, with medical opinion supporting an etiological link to active duty.

The Board has denied the appellant's claims for service connection for various conditions, including contusion of the right hand, hypertension, headaches, bilateral foot disorder, left hand disorder, sleep apnea, herpes, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (PTSD), finding that new and material evidence was not received to reopen these claims.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's obstructive sleep apnea is not related to his service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Board denied service connection for chronic fatigue syndrome as it was not due to an undiagnosed illness or a medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness, and instead found that the Veteran's fatigue symptoms were related to his known diagnoses of sleep apnea and medication side effects. The other issues on appeal are also addressed.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's right and left knee osteoarthritis and patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as his obstructive sleep apnea, are all related to service. The claims for increased rating of restrictive lung disease and special monthly compensation have been remanded due to inadequate examination.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, bilateral knee disorder, and impingement of shoulders. The evidence did not support a finding that these conditions were incurred or aggravated by military service.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development due to incomplete records and need for updated examinations.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for an acquired psychiatric disability and obstructive sleep apnea are remanded due to inadequate VA examinations, lack of new evidence, and inextricably linked secondary service connection claim.

The Veteran's claim for an increased rating for lumbosacral degenerative joint and disc disease was denied as his disability did not meet the criteria for a higher rating. The TDIU claim was also denied due to lack of evidence showing he is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment.